Chicago Backpacks

We took a long bus ride down 55th the other day. It was around the time of day
that kids get out of school. There are a lot of schools along that drag.

Since when did they start requiring kids to carry transparent backpacks? I
don't remember hearing about this. But nearly every kid was carrying a clear
plastic backpack. For safety and security, I'm sure. I saw dozens of these
things during that ride. Mostly junior high kids.

I was also left wondering whether a blank white t-shirt with blue jeans is the
dress code at some of these same urban schools, or just fashion. Hard to tell,
but almost as many guys were wearing that as were carrying transparent
backpacks.